Picked up a restocked MKX a while back. Went to take it apart and the bottom metal had been glassed in place. I had to tap it out using a block of wood down through the top of the stock. The rear screw spacer is also glassed in place. The action is firmly glassed and there is a gap behind the tang.

I have never had one this tight. Do you inlet yours so the drop out? I normally inlet so a good pull on the bow will pop it out.

Just wondering if I should leave as is or hit it will some sand paper.

Is it tight or does it actually stress/expand the stock? You don't want the later.

You don't want it to fall out, but it should be easily removable by hand without binding on either end.

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Is it tight or does it actually stress/expand the stock? You don't want the later.

I can't see that it is expanding the stock. It appears the inletting was close then it was glass bedded. There is no way you are going to simply grab the bow and pull it out. When you put it back in place you can push it by hand to about 1/16" or so above the wood. Then you have to use a mallet or pull it into place with the screws.

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Originally posted by ramrod340:

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Is it tight or does it actually stress/expand the stock? You don't want the later.

I can't see that it is expanding the stock. It appears the inletting was close then it was glass bedded. There is no way you are going to simply grab the bow and pull it out. When you put it back in place you can push it by hand to about 1/16" or so above the wood. Then you have to use a mallet or pull it into place with the screws.

That's to tight then. You shouldn't have to force it in at all. when I bed an action, I put a single layer of cellophane tape on all of the vertical surfaces of the trigger guard that will contact the stock. In addition, I use cellophane around the rear tang of the action. Everything else is dead tight on the receiver and horizontal surfaces of the trigger guard.

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That's to tight then. You shouldn't have to force it in at all. when I bed an action, I put a single layer of cellophane tape on all of the vertical surfaces of the trigger guard that will contact the stock. In addition, I use cellophane around the rear tang of the action

I pretty much do the same. Layer of black electrical tape around the bottom metal double layer along the rear curve and the tang.

If it is tight from epoxy; that is ok as long as it started out not being too tight to where the wood is spread. If it is tight from wedging itself into the wood, that is bad.

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Originally posted by ramrod340:

quote:

Is it tight or does it actually stress/expand the stock? You don't want the later.

I can't see that it is expanding the stock. It appears the inletting was close then it was glass bedded. There is no way you are going to simply grab the bow and pull it out. When you put it back in place you can push it by hand to about 1/16" or so above the wood. Then you have to use a mallet or pull it into place with the screws.

I'm just an amateur butcher/hack, but I believe that is far too tight. I guess it would depend where it is binding(it must be binding if you have to force it in, right?)

I owned a custom stocked rifle that split at the web due to the bottom metal being too tight. Jim Carmichael wrote of a rifle that he owned that had the barrel channel inletted so tightly to the barrel that the fore-end split after he had owned it for several years.

All of the knowledgeable people(custom gun builders, custom gun experts/writers) I have read seem to believe that the magazine box/bottom metal must be "free" as any binding can split the stock when it swells and shrinks with varying humidity.

If you think about how much your wood stock swelled when it went through the soaking during your move you can see why they would say that.

There is "draft" on all the exterior surfaces of the bottom metal except the round portion on the front, the part that encases the front guard screw. If you relieve that portion of the glass bedding, it should just fall out witha slight "wiggle". I normally put a shim of some tape when inletting it.

All too often glass bedding gets into the guard screw hole where the front "pillar" on the guard fits into. This will make the fit extremely tight.

Thanks guys,
After sleeping on it while it might work as it is I would always wonder if this is the shot it will split.

Since I leave for Houston bright and early on Friday hopeing to be back around the Feb 19th. It will give me something to play with once they allow me to lift something heavier than my tooth brush.

Jason I'd almost forgotten that. NOT!!!! But I wish I could

Yep before it is shot bottom metal will be worked on.